I hear you on skipping the tape. I did a deck at my uncle’s place a few years back and we just used a slight pitch on the joists too—never bothered with flashing. It’s holding up fine, but I do wonder if it’ll catch up with us in another decade. For spacing, 3/16" has always worked for me as well, especially with composite boards. Too tight and they start to cup, too wide and stuff falls through... seems like you found the sweet spot.
I just finished my first deck last summer and honestly, I went back and forth on the tape and flashing thing. Ended up using tape on the joists, mostly because I kept reading about water getting trapped and causing rot over time. Maybe I was being overly cautious, but with how much work it was, I figured better safe than sorry. For spacing, I tried 1/8" at first (pressure-treated wood), but after a few boards, realized it was way too tight—swelling made them squeak like crazy after a rain. Switched to 3/16" and it’s been perfect so far. Not sure if it’ll matter in 10 years, but at least for now, no regrets.
I get why folks use tape on the joists, but honestly, I’m a bit skeptical it does much long-term unless you’re in a super wet climate. My old deck went 15 years with zero tape—just kept up with stain and sealant. Never had rot, but I did regret going too tight on the spacing. Those boards swelled up and buckled after every wet spring. If I ever do it again, I’d go even wider than 3/16" just for peace of mind.
Never had rot, but I did regret going too tight on the spacing.
I hear you on the tape. I skipped it on my deck too—just kept up with stain, and the joists are still solid after a decade. That said, I probably got lucky since our winters are pretty dry. As for spacing, totally agree. I went with 1/8" because I liked the look, but after a couple wet seasons, some boards started to warp and squeak. Next time, I’ll do at least 1/4" just for less hassle. Sometimes saving a few bucks upfront isn’t worth the headache later...
Funny, I always thought tighter spacing would look cleaner too, but yeah, those squeaks are no joke after a wet spring. Out of curiosity, has anyone tried using composite boards with wider gaps? I’ve only ever worked with wood, but I keep hearing composites handle moisture differently... Wondering if that changes the spacing game at all.